Gatepost



J. F. BowLER GATEPOST Original Filed July 31. 1922 ations,

Patented Dec. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOI-IN FRANCIS BOVVLER, OF CAVENDISH, IDAHO.

GATEPOST.

Application filed July 31, 1922, Serial No. 578,687. Renewed June 5, 1925.

just it for snow and the like, and tor the.

purpose of separating stock, such as sheep and hogs, from cattle in a stock yar-d.

A further object is to provide a gate post with means for automatically closing the gate after the latter has been opened.

A still further object is to provide a gate post with a single means capable of accomplishing the dual function of elevating the gate and of closing the gate automatically.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a gate post of the above character provided with a cap to prevent snow and the like from interfering with or damaging the opera-ting mechanism.

Ihe invention includes broadly a post, a vertically a-djustable member on the post adapted to support a gate, and operating means arranged within the post and connected to the gate for raising the latter or for automatically closing the same.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing;

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved gate post with a gate attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the post and the gate operating means.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a detail showing the locking means 'for limiting the vertical movement oi" the gate.

In the drawing, 1 designates a hollow or tubular post on which is mounted a sleeve 2 carrying a horizontally swinging gate 3. The sleeve 2 is adapted to rotate as well as to slide vertically'.

The sleeve 2 is provided with diametrcally opposite disposed lugs 4t connected to the ends of a flexible member such as a rope or cable 5. The member 5 passes over pulleys 6 journaled atthe upper ends ot the posiL 1. The member 5 supports a weight 7 provided at its upper end with a pulley 8 which engages an intermediate portion of the rope or cable. As the weight 7 is heavier than the gate 3, it will be understood that the sleeve 2 and gate may be raised to the upper end of the post. In order, however, to limit the vertical movement of the gate and sleeve, I have provided a vertically adjustable collar 9 which is arranged above the sleeve an-d has a looking cam 10 pivotally mounted on the same, as shown at 11, and provided with a weighted lever 12. As shown in Fig. 3, the cam when swung in the proper position will bind against the post 1 and will prevent the collar 9 from moving. The weighted arm 12 will automatically hold the cam in this position.

In order to release the cam and to permit the collar to be moved vertically, the lever is connected to one end of an operating member such as a rope 13 which passes over a pulley 14 and has its other end depending downwardly so that the same may be readily reached by the operator.

It will be understood that in operation the weight 7 will cause the upper edge of the sleeve 2 to engage the collar 9, and this oollar will limit the upward movement of the gate. When, however, .it is desired to raise the gate to permit the same to pass over fallen snow or to accommodate the passage of small anima-ls such as sheep and hogs, the operating member or rope 13 may be grasped and the tree end of the rope be pulled downwardly. This will cause the lever 12 to be swung in a counter-clockwise direction to release the cam from the post. Then the weight will descend, and this will cause the cable 5 to raise the sleeve 2 and gate 3. When the gate has been elevated to the desired height, the rope 13 may be released, and then the weighted arm 12 will swing in a clockwise direction and cause the cam 10 to loc-k the collar 9 in its adjusted position.

It will be noted that the weight 7 will also function to close the gate, for. each time the gate is opened the lugs 4L will swing about the axis of the post, and this will cause the rope 5 to be twisted. As the weight causes the rope to untwist, it will return the gate to its closed position.

In order to prevent snow and the like from entering the interior of the post l, I have provided the upper end of the post with a cap l5 preferably having a depending skirt 1G, to Which the pulley 14 is attached.

From the foregoing, I believe that the construction, operation and advantages of the invention may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and I am aware that various changes may be made in the construction illustrated Without departing from the spirit oi' the invention as expressed in the claims.

IVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

l. In combina-tion, a hollow gate post, a vertically movable gate pivotally mounted on said post, manually controlled means for regulating the vertical movement of the gate, and a single means including a force exerting member arranged in said post and connected to said gate for automatically closing the same and tor elevating said gate when the manually controlled means is actuated.

.2. In combina-tion, a hollow gate post. a

rotatable and axially movable sleeve mounted on said post, a gate carried by said sleeve, a Weight arranged Within said post, lugs mounted on said sleeve and arranged on opposite sides of the latter, guides arranged at the upper end of said post, and a flexible member supporting said Weight, passing over said guides and connected to said lugs.

3. A combination as claimed in cla-im 2 having an adjustable locking member for limiting the axial movement of said sleeve.

4. A combination as claimed in claim 2 having a locking' member for limiting the axial movement ot said sleeve, said locking member consisting ot a collar mounted on said post ior axial movement, a cam pivotally mounted on said collar and engageable with said post, a weighted lever' connected to said cam, and an operating' member for raising' said lever.

5. A combination as claimed in cltim 2 having a cap arranged in the upper end of said post to prevent snow and the like from entering said post.

JOHN FRANCIS BOVVLER. 

